I do the paper towel way because it's a way to cull out the bad ones without going thru the trouble of planting one and it not pop.Even if the root gets stuck and you break the root a little(a little,not in half) it'll still sprout.It's happened to me a few times.
For instance...Last crop I germed 75 seeds,72 popped open and were put in solos,ended up with 37 females.
Now if I had germed all 75 in solo cups it would not as been as successful 72/75,I guarantee!
I'm not real good at explaining stuff but y'all get what I'm sayin'.If I had germed 75 seeds in cups and 5,10,15 or more didn't sprout,I just wasted my time and effort with those that didn't pop.I know what I'm getting,I do the same thing with pepper and tomato seeds.GL